# Sustained Ocular Drug Delivery System for Anti-VEGF Agents

> **NIH NIH R01** · ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2021 · $52,250

## Abstract

Project Summary
Recently employed intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy is a promising
treatment for the wet form of age-related macular degeneration with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and
diabetic retinopathy. In fact, the anti-VEGF therapy has become a gold standard for these diseases. While the
therapeutic effects are positive, a major drawback is that this treatment must be repeated every four to six
weeks. The repetitive treatment burden on the patients, family members, and clinicians is substantial.
Recently, we have developed a biodegradable microspheres, thermo-responsive hydrogel ocular drug delivery
system (DDS). Biodegradable microspheres are produced using our modified double emulsion technique
providing a better microenvironment for pharmacological agents. The biodegradable thermo-responsive
hydrogel is a safe, effective, and injectable biomaterial that is used to confine the microspheres to a specific
delivery site. We have previously demonstrated a controlled sustained release of anti-VEGF for a period of 6
months with excellent safety profiles. The overall goal of this proposal is to quantitatively evaluate the safety
and efficacy of our proposed DDS in a non-human primate model and compare to the conventional therapy.
Our hypothesis is that a sustained controlled anti-VEGF release over a prolong period of ~6 months, will be as
effective, if not more effective, as the conventional therapy. The Specific Aim 1 is to determine ocular
pharmacokinetics (PK) of aflibercept released from DDS in a non-human primate (NHP) model. The Specific
Aim 2 to determine biocompatibility of DDS in a NHP model. The Specific Aim 3 is to quantitatively compare
the efficacy and bioactivity of the proposed DDS to the conventional therapy in its ability to suppress
angiogenic responses in CNV model. The Specific Aim 4 is to measure long-term potential side effects, if any,
of the proposed DDS and exposure of anti-VEGF in a rodent model. The Specific Aim 5 is to quantitatively
evaluate the drug release kinetics and bioactivity of the dual-drug release DDS. Widespread clinical use of
anti-VEGF necessitates a practical and effective delivery method to the posterior segment of the eye. We
believe that our drug delivery system will fill this critical clinical need. The knowledge gained in this proposal
will bring this technology one step closer to translation into the clinical practice and will have a significant
impact on the current healthcare system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10307325
- **Project number:** 3R01EY029298-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** JENNIFER J Kang-Mieler
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $52,250
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-05-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10307325

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10307325, Sustained Ocular Drug Delivery System for Anti-VEGF Agents (3R01EY029298-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10307325. Licensed CC0.

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